Imports: $11.2 billion (c.i.f., FY93/94 est.)commodities: machinery and equipment, foods, fertilizers, woodproducts, durable consumer goods, capital goodspartners: EU, US, Japan
External debt: $31.2 billion (December 1994 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 2.7% (FY92/93 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 11,830,000 kW production: 44.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 695 kWh (1993)
Industries: textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, petroleum, construction, cement, metals
Agriculture: cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruit, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats; annual fish catch about 140,000 metric tons
Illicit drugs: a transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin and opium moving to Europe and the US; popular transit stop for Nigerian couriers; large domestic consumption of hashish from Lebanon and Syria
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $15.7 billion;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-88), $10.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $2.9 billion;Communist countries (1970-89), $2.4 billion
Currency: 1 Egyptian pound (#E) = 100 piasters
Exchange rates: Egyptian pounds (#E) per US$1 - 3.4 (November 1994), 3.369 (November 1993), 3.345 (November 1992), 2.7072 (1990); market rate: 3.3920 (January 1995), 3.3920 (1994), 3.3704 (1993), 3.3300 (1992), 2.0000 (1991), 1.1000 (1990)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@Egypt:Transportation
Railroads:total: 4,895 km (42 km electrified; 951 km double track)standard gauge: 4,548 km 1,435-m gauge (42 km electrified; 951 kmdouble track)narrow gauge: 347 km 0.750-m gauge
Highways:total: 47,387 kmpaved: 34,593 kmunpaved: 12,794 km
Inland waterways: 3,500 km (including the Nile, Lake Nasser,Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in the delta);Suez Canal, 193.5 km long (including approaches), used by oceangoingvessels drawing up to 16.1 meters of water
Pipelines: crude oil 1,171 km; petroleum products 596 km; natural gas460 km
Ports: Alexandria, Al Ghurdaqah, Aswan, Asyut, Bur Safajah, Damietta,Marsa Matruh, Port Said, Suez
Merchant marine:total: 168 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,187,442 GRT/1,821,327DWTships by type: bulk 19, cargo 83, container 2, oil tanker 15,passenger 30, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 14,short-sea passenger 4
Airports:total: 91with paved runways over 3,047 m: 11with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 35with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3with paved runways under 914 m: 14with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 7
@Egypt:Communications
Telephone system: 600,000 telephones; 11 telephones/1,000 persons;large system by Third World standards but inadequate for presentrequirements and undergoing extensive upgradinglocal: NAintercity: principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah,Ismailia Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and microwaveradio relayinternational: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean), 1ARABSAT, and 1 INMARSAT earth station; 5 coaxial submarine cables,microwave troposcatter (to Sudan), and microwave radio relay (toLibya, Israel, and Jordan)
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 39, FM 6, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 41televisions: NA
@Egypt:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 16,113,413; males fit for military service 10,455,955; males reach military age (20) annually 648,724 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.5 billion, 8.2% of total government budget (FY94/95)
________________________________________________________________________
@El Salvador:Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, betweenGuatemala and Honduras
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total area: 21,040 sq kmland area: 20,720 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries: total 545 km, Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
Coastline: 307 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nm
International disputes: land boundary dispute with Honduras mostly resolved by 11 September 1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision; with respect to the maritime boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca, ICJ referred to an earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua likely would be required
Climate: tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April)
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
Natural resources: hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum
Land use: arable land: 27% permanent crops: 8% meadows and pastures: 29% forest and woodland: 6% other: 30%
Irrigated land: 1,200 sq km (1989)
Environment:current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution;contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastesnatural hazards: known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent andsometimes very destructive earthquakes and volcanic activityinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed,but not ratified - Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Note: smallest Central American country and only one without acoastline on Caribbean Sea
@El Salvador:People
Population: 5,870,481 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 40% (female 1,165,152; male 1,200,759)15-64 years: 56% (female 1,677,958; male 1,602,230)65 years and over: 4% (female 122,368; male 102,014) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.02% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 32.39 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6.19 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 38.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.5 years male: 64.89 years female: 70.23 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.69 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Salvadoran(s) adjective: Salvadoran
Ethnic divisions: mestizo 94%, Indian 5%, white 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 75% note: there is extensive activity by Protestant groups throughout the country; by the end of 1992, there were an estimated 1 million Protestant evangelicals in El Salvador
Languages: Spanish, Nahua (among some Indians)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)total population: 73%male: 76%female: 70%
Labor force: 1.7 million (1982 est.) by occupation: agriculture 40%, commerce 16%, manufacturing 15%, government 13%, financial services 9%, transportation 6%, other 1% note: shortage of skilled labor and a large pool of unskilled labor, but training programs improving situation (1984 est.)
@El Salvador:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of El Salvadorconventional short form: El Salvadorlocal long form: Republica de El Salvadorlocal short form: El Salvador
Digraph: ES
Type: republic
Capital: San Salvador
Administrative divisions: 14 departments (departamentos, singular -departamento); Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, LaLibertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, SantaAna, San Vicente, Sonsonate, Usulutan
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 20 December 1983
Legal system: based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President Armando CALDERON SOL(since 1 June 1994); Vice President Enrique BORGO Bustamante (since 1June 1994) election last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held March1999); results - Armando CALDERON SOL (ARENA) 49.03%, Ruben ZAMORARivas (CD/FMLN/MNR) 24.09%, Fidel CHAVEZ Mena (PDC) 16.39%, other10.49%; because no candidate received a majority, a run-off electionwas held 24 April 1994; results - Armando CALDERON SOL (ARENA) 68.35%,Ruben ZAMORA Rivas (CD/FMLN/MNR) 31.65%cabinet: Council of Ministers
Legislative branch: unicameralLegislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa): elections last held 20March 1994 (next to be held March 1997); results - ARENA 46.4%, FMLN25.0%, PDC 21.4%, PCN 4.8%, other 2.4%; seats - (84 total) ARENA 39,FMLN 21, PDC 18, PCN 4, other 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Political parties and leaders: National Republican Alliance (ARENA), Juan Jose DOMENECH, president; Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN), Salvador SANCHEZ Ceren (aka Leonel GONZALEZ), general coordinator; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Ronal UMANA, secretary general; National Conciliation Party (PCN), Ciro CRUZ Zepeda, secretary general; Democratic Convergence (CD), Juan Jose MARTEL, secretary general; Unity Movement, Jorge MARTINEZ Menendez, president note: newly formed parties not yet officially recognized by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal: Liberal Democratic Party (PLD), Kirio Waldo SALGADO, founder; Social Democratic Party (breakaway from FMLN), Joaquin VILLALOBOS, founder; Social Christian Renovation Movement (MRSC) (breakaway from PDC), Abraham RODRIGUEZ, founder
Other political or pressure groups:labor organizations: Salvadoran Communal Union (UCS), peasantassociation; General Confederation of Workers (CGT), moderate; UnitedWorkers Front (FUT)business organizations: Productive Alliance (AP), conservative;National Federation of Salvadoran Small Businessmen (FENAPES),conservative
Member of: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL,PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ana Cristina SOL chancery: 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671, 9672 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Alan H. FLANIGAN embassy: Final Boulevard, Station Antiguo Cuscatlan, San Salvador mailing address: Unit 3116, San Salvador; APO AA 34023 telephone: [503] 78-4444 FAX: [503] 78-6011
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - it features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
@El Salvador:Economy
Overview: The agricultural sector accounts for 24% of GDP, employs about 40% of the labor force, and contributes about 66% to total exports. Coffee is the major commercial crop, accounting for 45% of export earnings. The manufacturing sector, based largely on food and beverage processing, accounts for 19% of GDP and 15% of employment. In 1992-94 the government made substantial progress toward privatization and deregulation of the economy. Growth in national output in 1991-94 nearly averaged 5%, exceeding growth in population for the first time since 1987; and inflation in 1994 of 10% was down from 19% in 1993.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $9.8 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 5% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $1,710 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 6.7% (1993)
Budget:revenues: $846 millionexpenditures: $890 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1992 est.)
Exports: $823 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)commodities: coffee, sugarcane, shrimppartners: US, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Germany
Imports: $2.1 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods partners: US, Guatemala, Mexico, Venezuela, Germany
External debt: $2.6 billion (December 1992)
Industrial production: growth rate 7.6% (1993)
Electricity: capacity: 750,000 kW production: 2.4 billion kWh consumption per capita: 408 kWh (1993)
Industries: food processing, beverages, petroleum, nonmetallic products, tobacco, chemicals, textiles, furniture
Agriculture: accounts for 24% of GDP and 40% of labor force (including fishing and forestry); coffee most important commercial crop; other products - sugarcane, corn, rice, beans, oilseeds, beef, dairy products, shrimp; not self-sufficient in food
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine; marijuana produced forlocal consumption
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $2.95 billion(plus $250 million for 1992-96); Western (non-US) countries, ODA andOOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $525 million
Currency: 1 Salvadoran colon (C) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Salvadoran colones (C) per US$1 - 8.760 (January 1995), 8.750 (1994), 8.670 (1993), 8.4500 (1992), 8.080 (1991), 8.0300 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@El Salvador:Transportation
Railroads:total: 602 km (single track; note - some sections abandoned, unusable,or operating at reduced capacity)narrow gauge: 602 km 0.914-m gauge
Highways:total: 10,000 kmpaved: 1,500 kmunpaved: gravel 4,100 km; improved, unimproved earth 4,400 km
Inland waterways: Rio Lempa partially navigable
Ports: Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco, La Libertad, La Union, Puerto ElTriunfo
Merchant marine: none
Airports:total: 106with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2with paved runways under 914 m: 78with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 23
@El Salvador:Communications
Telephone system: 116,000 telephones; 21 telephones/1,000 personslocal: NAintercity: nationwide microwave radio relay systeminternational: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station; connected toCentral American Microwave System
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 77, FM 0, shortwave 2radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 5televisions: NA
@El Salvador:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,393,480; males fit for military service 892,958; males reach military age (18) annually 77,562 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $103 million, 0.7% ofGDP (1994); $91.9 million, less than 1% of GDP (1995 est.)
________________________________________________________________________
@Equatorial Guinea:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenCameroon and Gabon
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 28,050 sq kmland area: 28,050 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries: total 539 km, Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km
Coastline: 296 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay
Climate: tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain: coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
Natural resources: timber, petroleum, small unexploited deposits of gold, manganese, uranium
Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: 4% meadows and pastures: 4% forest and woodland: 51% other: 33%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: tap water is not potable; desertificationnatural hazards: violent windstormsinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Endangered Species,Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law ofthe Sea
Note: insular and continental regions rather widely separated
@Equatorial Guinea:People
Population: 420,293 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 43% (female 90,404; male 90,997)15-64 years: 53% (female 117,124; male 105,724)65 years and over: 4% (female 8,969; male 7,075) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.59% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 40.22 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 14.36 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 100.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 52.56 years male: 50.39 years female: 54.79 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.23 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Ethnic divisions: Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni(primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish
Religions: nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, paganpractices
Languages: Spanish (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1983)total population: 62%male: 77%female: 48%
Labor force: 172,000 (1986 est.) by occupation: agriculture 66%, services 23%, industry 11% (1980) note: labor shortages on plantations
@Equatorial Guinea:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guineaconventional short form: Equatorial Guinealocal long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatoriallocal short form: Guinea Ecuatorialformer: Spanish Guinea
Digraph: EK
Type: republic in transition to multiparty democracy
Capital: Malabo
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Independence: 12 October 1968 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Constitution: new constitution 17 November 1991
Legal system: partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom
Suffrage: universal adult at age NA
Executive branch:chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMAMBASOGO (since 3 August 1979); election last held 25 June 1989 (nextto be held 25 June 1996); results - President Brig. Gen. (Ret.)Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO was reelected without oppositionhead of government: Prime Minister Silvestre SIALE BILEKA (since 17January 1992); Vice Prime Minister Anatolio NDONG MBA (since November1993)cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameralHouse of People's Representatives: (Camara de Representantes delPueblo) elections last held 21 November 1993; seats - (82 total) PDGE72, various opposition parties 10
Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:ruling party: Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea (PDGE), Brig.Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO, party leaderopposition parties: Progressive Democratic Alliance (ADP),Antonio-Ebang Mbele Abang, president; Popular Action of EquatorialGuinea (APGE),Casiano Masi Edu, leader; Liberal Democratic Convention(CLD), Alfonso Nsue MOKUY, president; Convergence for Social Democracy(CPDS),Santiago Obama Ndong, president; Social Democratic and PopularConvergence (CSDP), Secundino Oyono Agueng Ada, general secretary;Party of the Social Democratic Coalition (PCSD), Buenaventura MoswiM'Asumu, general coordinater; Liberal Party (PL), leaders unknown;Party of Progress (PP), Severo MOTO Nsa, president; Social DemocraticParty (PSD), Benjamin-Gabriel Balingha Balinga Alene, generalsecretary; Socialist Party of Equatorial Guinea (PSGE), Tomas MICHEBEFernandez, general secretary; National Democratic Union (UDENA), JoseMECHEBA Ikaka, president; Democratic Social Union (UDS), Jesus NzeObama Avomo, general secretary; Popular Union (UP), Juan Bitui,president
Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD,ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT(nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU,UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim TeodoroBiyogo NSUEchancery: (temporary) 57 Magnolia Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10553telephone: [1] (914) 738-9584, 667-6913FAX: [1] (914) 667-6838
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Joseph P. O'NEILL embassy: Calle de Los Ministros, Malabo mailing address: P.O. Box 597, Malabo telephone: [240] (9) 21-85, 24-06, 25-07 FAX: [240] (9) 21-64
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has six yellow six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and five offshore islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton tree and below which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice)
@Equatorial Guinea:Economy
Overview: Agriculture, forestry, and fishing account for about half of GDP and nearly all exports. Subsistence farming predominates. Although pre-independence Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for hard currency earnings, the deterioration of the rural economy under successive brutal regimes has diminished potential for agriculture-led growth. A number of aid programs sponsored by the World Bank and the international donor community have failed to revitalize export agriculture. Businesses for the most part are owned by government officials and their family members. Commerce accounts for about 8% of GDP and the construction, public works, and service sectors for about 38%. Undeveloped natural resources include titanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. Oil exploration, taking place under concessions offered to US, French, and Spanish firms, has been moderately successful. Increased production from recently discovered natural gas fields will provide a greater share of exports in 1995.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $280 million (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate: 7.3% (1993 est.)
National product per capita: $700 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.6% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $32.5 millionexpenditures: $35.9 million, including capital expenditures of $3million (1992 est.)
Exports: $56 million (f.o.b., 1993)commodities: coffee, timber, cocoa beanspartners: Spain 55.2%, Nigeria 11.4%, Cameroon 9.1% (1992)
Imports: $62 million (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: petroleum, food, beverages, clothing, machinery partners: Cameroon 23.1%, Spain 21.8%, France 14.1%, US 4.3% (1992)
External debt: $260 million (1992 est)
Industrial production: growth rate 11.3% (1993 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 23,000 kW production: 20 million kWh consumption per capita: 50 kWh (1993)
Industries: fishing, sawmilling
Agriculture: accounts for almost 50% of GDP, cash crops - timber and coffee from Rio Muni, cocoa from Bioko; food crops - rice, yams, cassava, bananas, oil palm nuts, manioc, livestock
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY81-89), $14 million;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $130 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $55 million
Currency: 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1- 529.43 (January 1995), 555.20 (1994), 273,16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990)note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since1948
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Equatorial Guinea:Transportation
Railroads:total: 0 km
Highways:total: 2,760 km (2,460 km on Rio Muni and 300 km on Bioko)paved: NAunpaved: NA
Ports: Bata, Luba, Malabo
Merchant marine:total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,412 GRT/6,699 DWTships by type: cargo 1, passenger-cargo 1
Airports:total: 3with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 1
@Equatorial Guinea:Communications
Telephone system: 2,000 telephones; poor system with adequategovernment serviceslocal: NAintercity: NAinternational: international communications from Bata and Malabo toAfrican and European countries; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 1televisions: NA
@Equatorial Guinea:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Rapid Intervention Force, NationalPolice
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 89,752; males fit for militaryservice 45,611 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.5 million, NA% ofGDP (FY93/94)
________________________________________________________________________
@Eritrea:Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti andSudan
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 121,320 sq kmland area: 121,320 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries: total 1,630 km, Djibouti 113 km, Ethiopia 912 km,Sudan 605 km
Coastline: 1,151 km (land and island coastline is 2,234 km)
Maritime claims: NA
International disputes: none
Climate: hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually); semiarid in western hills and lowlands; rainfall heaviest during June-September except on coastal desert
Terrain: dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains
Natural resources: gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, probably oil(petroleum geologists are prospecting for it), fish
Land use:arable land: 3%permanent crops: 2% (coffee)meadows and pastures: 40%forest and woodland: 5%other: 50%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: famine; deforestation; desertification; soil erosion;overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfarenatural hazards: frequent droughtsinternational agreements: party to - Endangered Species; signed, butnot ratified - Desertification
Note: strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shippinglanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia along the RedSea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 27 April 1993
@Eritrea:People
Population: 3,578,709 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 43% (female 763,416; male 774,922)15-64 years: 54% (female 965,124; male 965,435)65 years and over: 3% (female 52,950; male 56,862) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 9.04% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 44.34 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 15.67 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) note: repatriation of up to a half million Eritrean refugees in Sudan is now underway; 100,000 are expected to return during 1995
Infant mortality rate: 120.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50 years male: 48.28 years female: 51.78 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.53 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Eritrean(s) adjective: Eritrean
Ethnic divisions: ethnic Tigrays 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%,Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%
Religions: Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Languages: Tigre and Kunama, Cushitic dialects, Tigre, Nora Bana,Arabic
Labor force: NA
@Eritrea:Government
Names:conventional long form: State of Eritreaconventional short form: Eritrealocal long form: nonelocal short form: noneformer: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia
Digraph: ER
Type: transitional governmentnote: on 29 May 1991 ISAIAS Afworke, secretary general of the Peoples'Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), which then served and stillserves as the country's legislative body, announced the formation ofthe Provisional Government in Eritrea (PGE) in preparation for the23-25 April 1993 referendum on independence for the autonomous regionof Eritrea; the result was a landslide vote for independence which wasproclaimed on 27 April 1993
Capital: Asmara (formerly Asmera)
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Akole Guzay, Baraka, Danakil,Hamasen, Sahil, Samhar, Senhit, Seraye, Sahil
Independence: 27 May 1993 (from Ethiopia; formerly the EritreaAutonomous Region)
National holiday: National Day (independence from Ethiopia), 24 May(1993)
Constitution: transitional "constitution" decreed 19 May 1993
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: NA
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President ISAIAS Afworke (since22 May 1993)cabinet: State Council; the collective executive authoritynote: election to be held before 20 May 1997
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly: PFDJ Central Committee serves as the country's legislative body until country-wide elections are held (before 20 May 1997)
Judicial branch: Judiciary
Political parties and leaders: People's Front for Democracy andJustice (PFDJ), ISAIAS Afworke, PETROS Solomon (the only partyrecognized by the government)
Other political or pressure groups: Eritrean Islamic Jihad (EIJ);Islamic Militant Group; Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF), ABDULLAHMuhammed; Eritrean Liberation Front - United Organization (ELF-UO),Mohammed Said NAWUD; Eritrean Liberation Front - Revolutionary Council(ELF-RC), Ahmed NASSER
Member of: ACP, ECA, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO,INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), ITU, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador AMDEMICHAEL Berhane Khasai chancery: Suite 400, 910 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 429-1991 FAX: [1] (202) 429-9004
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert G. HOUDEK embassy: 34 Zera Yacob St., Asmara mailing address: P.O. Box 211, Asmara telephone: [291] (1) 120004 FAX: [291] (1) 127584
Flag: red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower one is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered on the hoist side of the red triangle
@Eritrea:Economy
Overview: With independence from Ethiopia on 27 April 1993, Eritrea faces the bitter economic problems of a small, desperately poor African country. Most of the population will continue to depend on subsistence farming. Domestic output is substantially augmented by worker remittances from abroad. Government revenues come from custom duties and income and sales taxes. Eritrea has inherited the entire coastline of Ethiopia and has long-term prospects for revenues from the development of offshore oil, offshore fishing, and tourism. For the time being, Ethiopia will be largely dependent on Eritrean ports for its foreign trade.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.8 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 2% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $500 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports: $NAcommodities: NApartners: NA
Imports: $NA commodities: NA partners: NA
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: capacity: NA kW production: NA kWh consumption per capita: NA kWh
Industries: food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles
Agriculture: products - sorghum, livestock (including goats), fish, lentils, vegetables, maize, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal (for making rope)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 birr (Br) = 100 cents; at present, Ethiopian currency used
Exchange rates: 1 birr (Br) per US$1 - 5.9500 (January 1995), 5.9500 (1994), 5.000 (fixed rate 1992-93); note - official rate pegged to US$
Fiscal year: NA
@Eritrea:Transportation
Railroads:total: 307 km; note - nonoperational since 1978; links Ak'ordat andAsmara (formerly Asmera) with the port of Massawa (formerly Mits'iwa)narrow gauge: 307 km 1.000-m gauge (1993 est.)
Highways:total: 3,845 kmpaved: 807 kmunpaved: gravel 840 km; improved earth 402 km; unimproved earth 1,796km
Ports: Assab (Aseb), Massawa (Mits'iwa)
Merchant marine: none
Airports:total: 20with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 2with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 1with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 6with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 7
@Eritrea:Communications
Telephone system: NA local: NA intercity: NA international: NA
Radio:broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: NAtelevisions: NA
@Eritrea:Defense Forces
Branches: Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
________________________________________________________________________
@Estonia:Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf ofFinland, between Latvia and Russia
Map references: Europe
Area:total area: 45,100 sq kmland area: 43,200 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than New Hampshire and Vermontcombinednote: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea
Land boundaries: total 557 km, Latvia 267 km, Russia 290 km
Coastline: 1,393 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: limits to be fixed in coordination with neighboring states territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claims over 2,000 sq km of Russian territory in the Narva and Pechora regions - based on boundary established under the 1921 Peace Treaty of Tartu
Climate: maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers
Terrain: marshy, lowlands
Natural resources: shale oil, peat, phosphorite, amber
Land use: arable land: 22% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 11% forest and woodland: 31% other: 36%
Irrigated land: 110 sq km (1990)
Environment:current issues: air heavily polluted with sulfur dioxide fromoil-shale burning power plants in northeast; contamination of soil andgroundwater with petroleum products, chemicals at military basesnatural hazards: flooding occurs frequently in the springinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
@Estonia:People
Population: 1,625,399 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 22% (female 174,304; male 181,101)15-64 years: 65% (female 549,473; male 515,426)65 years and over: 13% (female 139,722; male 65,373) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.53% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 13.9 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 11.93 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.17 years male: 65.2 years female: 75.39 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.98 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Estonian(s) adjective: Estonian
Ethnic divisions: Estonian 61.5%, Russian 30.3%, Ukrainian 3.17%,Byelorussian 1.8%, Finn 1.1%, other 2.13% (1989)
Religions: Lutheran
Languages: Estonian (official), Latvian, Lithuanian, Russian, other
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)total population: 100%male: 100%female: 100%
Labor force: 750,000 (1992) by occupation: industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 20%, other 38% (1990)
@Estonia:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Estoniaconventional short form: Estonialocal long form: Eesti Vabariiklocal short form: Eestiformer: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph: EN
Type: republic
Capital: Tallinn
Administrative divisions: 15 counties (maakonnad, singular - maakond):Harju maakond (Tallinn), Hiiu maakond (Kardla), Ida-Viru maakond(Johvi), Jarva maakond (Paide), Jogeva maakond (Jogeva), Laane maakond(Haapsalu), Laane-Viru maakond (Rakvere), Parnu maakond (Parnu), Polvamaakond (Polva), Rapla maakond (Rapla), Saare maakond (Kuessaare),Tartu maakond (Tartu), Valga maakond (Valga), Viljandi maakond(Viljandi), Voru maakond (Voru)note: county centers are in parentheses
Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 24 February (1918)
Constitution: adopted 28 June 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Lennart MERI (since 21 October 1992);election last held 20 September 1992; (next to be held fall 1996);results - no candidate received majority; newly elected Parliamentelected Lennart MERI (21 October 1992)head of government: Prime Minister Andres TARAND (since NA October1994)cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister,authorized by the legislature
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Riigikogu): elections last held 5 March 1995 (next to be held NA 1998); results - KMU 32.22%, RE 16.18%, K 14.17%, Pro Patria and ERSP 7.85%, M 5.98%, Our Home is Estonia and Right-Wingers 5.0%; seats - (101 total) KMU 41, RE 19, K 16, Pro Patria 8, Our Home is Estonia 6, M 6, Right-Wingers 5
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Coalition Party and Rural Union (KMU)made up of 4 parties: Coalition Party, Country People's Party,Farmer's Assembly, and Pensioners' and Families' League; CoalitionParty, Tiit VAHI, chairman; Country People's Party, Arnold RUUTEL,chairman; Farmer's Assembly, Jaak-Hans KUKS, chairman; Pensioners' andFamilies' League; Reform Party-Liberals (RE), Siim KALLAS, chairman;Center Party (K), Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman; Union of Pro Patria(Isaama of Fatherland), Mart LAAR, chairman; National IndependenceParty (ERSP), Kelam TUNNE, chairman; Our Home is Estonia made up of 2parties: United Peoples Party and the Russian Party in Estonia; UnitedPeoples Party, Viktor ANDREJEV, chairman; Russian Party in Estonia,Sergei KUZNETSOV, chairman; Moderates (M) made up of 2 parties: SocialDemocratic Party and Rural Center Party; Social Democratic Party, EikiNESTOR, chairman; Rural Center Party, Vambo KAAL, chairman;Right-Wingers, Ulo NUGIS, chairman
Member of: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent),ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associatepartner), WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Toomas Hendrik ILVES chancery: 1030 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005, Suite 1000 telephone: [1] (202) 789-0320 FAX: [1] (202) 789-0471 consulate(s) general: New York
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Keith SMITH embassy: Kentmanni 20, Tallinn EE 0001 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [372] (2) 312-021 through 024 FAX: [372] (2) 312-025
Flag: pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white
@Estonia:Economy
Overview: Bolstered by a widespread national desire to reintegrate into Western Europe, the Estonian government has pursued an ambitious program of market reforms and stabilization measures, which is rapidly transforming the economy. Three years after independence - and two years after the introduction of the kroon - Estonians are beginning to reap tangible benefits; inflation, though still high, was brought down to about 2% per month in second half 1994; production declines have bottomed out with estimated growth of 4% in 1994; and living standards are rising. Economic restructuring has been dramatic. By 1994 the service sector accounted for over 55% of GDP, while the once-dominant heavy industrial sector continues to shrink. The private sector is growing rapidly; the share of the state enterprises in the economy has steadily declined and by late 1994 accounted for only about 40% of GDP. Estonia's foreign trade has shifted rapidly from East to West; the Western industrialized countries now account for two-thirds of foreign trade.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $10.4 billion (1994 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)
National product real growth rate: 4% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $6,460 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.3% per month (1994 average)
Unemployment rate: about 2% in 1994 (official estimate but largenumber of underemployed workers)
Budget:revenues: $643 millionexpenditures: $639 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1993 est.)
Exports: $1.65 billion (f.o.b., 1994)commodities: textile 14%, food products 11%, vehicles 11%, metals 11%(1993)partners: Russia, Finland, Sweden, Germany
Imports: $1 billion (c.i.f., 1994)commodities: machinery 18%, fuels 15%, vehicles 14%, textiles 10%(1993)partners: Finland, Russia, Germany, Sweden
External debt: $650 million (end of 1991)
Industrial production: growth rate -27% (1993)
Electricity: capacity: 3,420,000 kW production: 11.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 6,528 kWh (1993)
Industries: oil shale, shipbuilding, phosphates, electric motors, excavators, cement, furniture, clothing, textiles, paper, shoes, apparel
Agriculture: accounts for 10% of GDP; employs 20% of work force; very efficient by Soviet standards; net exports of meat, fish, dairy products, and potatoes; imports of feedgrains for livestock; fruits and vegetables
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia and Latin America to Western Europe; very limited illicit opium producer; mostly for domestic consumption
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (1992), $10 million
Currency: 1 Estonian kroon (EEK) = 100 cents (introduced in August1992)
Exchange rates: kroons (EEK) per US$1 - 12.25 (January 1995); note -kroons are tied to the German Deutschmark at a fixed rate of 8 to 1
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Estonia:Transportation
Railroads:total: 1,030 km common carrier lines only; does not include dedicatedindustrial linesbroad gauge: 1,030 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)
Highways:total: 30,300 kmpaved or graveled: 29,200 kmunpaved: earth 1,100 km (1990)
Inland waterways: 500 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: natural gas 420 km (1992)
Ports: Haapsalu, Narva, Novotallin, Paldiski, Parnu, Tallinn
Merchant marine:total: 65 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 415,332 GRT/532,749 DWTships by type: bulk 6, cargo 44, container 2, oil tanker 2,roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger 4
Airports:total: 22with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4with unpaved runways under 914 m: 5
@Estonia:Communications
Telephone system: about 400,000 telephones; 246 telephones/1,000persons; telephone system is antiquated; improvements are being madepiecemeal, with emphasis on business needs and internationalconnections; there are still about 150,000 unfulfilled requests fortelephone servicelocal: NAintercity: NAinternational: international traffic is carried to the other formerUSSR republics by land line or microwave and to other countries partlyby leased connection to the Moscow international gateway switch, andpartly by a new Tallinn-Helsinki fiber optic submarine cable whichgives Estonia access to international circuits everywhere; substantialinvestment has been made in cellular systems which are operationalthroughout Estonia and also Latvia and which have access to theinternational packet switched digital network via Helsinki
Radio:broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 3; note - provide Estonian programs as well asMoscow Ostenkino's first and second programstelevisions: NA
@Estonia:Defense Forces
Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force (notofficially sanctioned), Maritime Border Guard, Volunteer DefenseLeague (Kaitseliit), Security Forces (internal and border troops),Coast Guard
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 396,588; males fit for military service 311,838; males reach military age (18) annually 11,915 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $34.1 million, almost 5% of the overall State budget and 1.5% of GDP (1995)
________________________________________________________________________
@Ethiopia:Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, west of Somalia
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 1,127,127 sq kmland area: 1,119,683 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries: total 5,311 km, Djibouti 337 km, Eritrea 912 km,Kenya 830 km, Somalia 1,626 km, Sudan 1,606 km
Coastline: none - landlocked
Maritime claims: none; landlocked
International disputes: southern half of the boundary with Somalia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Somalia over the Ogaden
Climate: tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
Terrain: high plateau with central mountain range divided by GreatRift Valley
Natural resources: small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 41% forest and woodland: 24% other: 22%
Irrigated land: 1,620 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;desertification; faminenatural hazards: geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible toearthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughtsinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified -Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, NuclearTest Ban
Note: landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost withthe de jure independence of Eritrea on 27 April 1993
@Ethiopia:People
Population: 55,979,018 (July 1995 est.) note: Ethiopian demographic data, except population and population growth rate, include Eritrea
Age structure:0-14 years: 46% (female 12,782,345; male 12,802,187)15-64 years: 52% (female 14,352,059; male 14,511,342)65 years and over: 2% (female 815,974; male 715,111) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.09% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 46.68 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 15.77 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) note: repatriation of Ethiopian refugees from Sudan, Kenya and Somalia, where they had taken refuge from war and famine in earlier years, is expected to continue in 1995; additional influxes of Sudanese and Somalis fleeing fighting in their countries can be expected in 1995
Infant mortality rate: 120.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50 years male: 48.28 years female: 51.78 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 7.07 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Ethiopian(s) adjective: Ethiopian
Ethnic divisions: Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigrean 32%, Sidamo 9%,Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%
Religions: Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35%-40%, animist 12%,other 5%
Languages: Amharic (official), Tigrinya, Orominga, Guaraginga, Somali,Arabic, English (major foreign language taught in schools)
Literacy: age 10 and over can read and write (1984)total population: 24%male: 33%female: 16%
Labor force: 18 million by occupation: agriculture and animal husbandry 80%, government and services 12%, industry and construction 8% (1985)
@Ethiopia:Government
Names:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Ethiopialocal long form: nonelocal short form: Ityop'iya
Digraph: ET
Type: transitional governmentnote: on 28 May 1991 the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary DemocraticFront (EPRDF) toppled the authoritarian government of MENGISTUHaile-Mariam and took control in Addis Ababa; a new constitution waspromulgated in December 1994 and national and regional elections arescheduled for May 1995; the administrative regions will elect regionalassemblies by popular vote; the National Assembly will have twochambers - one elected by popular vote and the other selected asrepresentatives by the regional assemblies; the lower house of theNational Assembly will select or confirm the president, the primeminister and the cabinet officers and judges; the prime minister willbe the chief executive officer and the duties of the president will bemostly ceremonial
Capital: Addis Ababa
Administrative divisions: 14 ethnically-based administrative regions (astedader akababiwach, singular - astedader akababi) Addis Ababa, Afar, Amhara, Benishangul, Gambela, Gurage-Hadiya-Kambata, Hareri, Kefa, Omo, Oromo, Sidama, Somali, Tigray, Wolayta note: the following named four administrative regions may have been abolished and their territories distributed among the remaining ten regions: Kefa, Omo, Sidama, and Wolayta
Independence: oldest independent country in Africa and one of theoldest in the world - at least 2,000 years
National holiday: National Day, 28 May (1991) (defeat of Mengisturegime)